Political blame game in Punjab after Ambedkar statue was vandalised

The accused has been identified as Akash Singh of Dharamkot in Moga district. He has been taken into custody by the police. Akash Singh belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.
Political blame game in Punjab after Ambedkar statue was vandalised
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CHANDIGARH: A youth vandalized the statue of BR Ambedkar, located on Heritage Street, a few metres from Kotwali police station, on Sunday triggering a political slugfest in the state.

Soon after the incident, people belonging to the Dalit community assembled on the spot and protested raising slogans against the police for failing to avert the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagjit Singh Walia and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters.

The Dalit organisations also called for a bandh in the city.

Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla and former cabinet minister Raj Kumar Verka, both Congress leaders, cleaned the statue on Monday with milk and water.

Aujla called for immediate intervention from the Punjab government and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

He accused the Punjab government for its failure to avert such an incident and also blamed the government for not calling a cabinet meeting.

"The AAP government considers Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Bhim Rao Ambedkar as idols. But, today there is no answer to this cowardice act," Aujla said.

Former Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly condemned the "attempt" to desecrate the statue.

"I strongly condemn the attempt to desecrate Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue at Heritage Street on Republic Day. This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit and a thorough inquiry to unravel the conspiracy behind this shameful incident. Let’s stand united against such vile attempts to create divisions in our society,” he said.

In a message posted on social media, BJP leader Vijay Sampla said that the statue was situated in the ‘galliara (open walled space/corridor)’ leading to Golden Temple and hence the SGPC and Akal Takht jathedar should also issue a clarification.

Taking strong exception to Sampla's statement, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) secretary Partap Singh said, "the statue is not situated in the galliara of golden temple. It is near the partition museum and Kotwali police station, where the responsibility to protect it totally lies with the government and administration. Though the galliara also comes under the jurisdiction and control of the government, the statue is nearly one kilometer from the shrine. So, it is totally unfair for Sampla to link this incident to the golden temple.”

"The Sikh institution gives due respect to Dr Ambedkar and strongly condemns the vandalism, but creating confusion in the community by linking this incident to golden temple is condemnable. Such baseless statements are unfair,’’ he said and added that Sampla should withdraw his statement so that confusion ends.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that exemplary punishment will be ensured to the accused in the case.

He urged the people to exercise restraint and cautioned that no one will be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace in the state. "The evil designs of anti-Punjab forces to create communal strife will be nipped in bud," he added.

Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla and former cabinet minister Raj Kumar Verka, both Congress leaders, cleaned the statue and the sculpture of the Constitution of India on Monday with milk and water.
Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjeet Singh Aujla and former cabinet minister Raj Kumar Verka, both Congress leaders, cleaned the statue and the sculpture of the Constitution of India on Monday with milk and water.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "The tallest statue of BR Ambedkar in Amritsar was desecrated by a person with a hammer under the very nose of Punjab government. The statue is in front of a police station. The statue was tall, so how did the accused get the ladder? This happened in Arvind Kejriwal AAPs Punjab and the whole team is silent. What happened in Amritsar could not have taken place without Arvind Kejriwal’s permission. Kejriwal should go to Amritsar, apologise in front of the Ambedkar statue, and resign from his position.’’

BSP chief Mayawati slammed the Congress and the BJP and claimed both are using Ambedkar’s name to deceive the people of Delhi ahead of the February 5 assembly polls. In a series of posts on X, Mayawati wrote, “The attempt to desecrate the statue of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar near the Golden Temple on Heritage Street in Amritsar and to set fire near a copy of the constitution is shameful. Such incidents, caused by government negligence, must be strongly condemned.’’

The accused

The accused has been identified as Akash Singh of Dharamkot in Moga district. He has been taken into custody by the police. Akash Singh belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.

He climbed the ladder provided near the statue to help political leaders pay floral tributes to Ambedkar on Republic Day and damaged the statue with the help of a hammer.

"A mischievous element on Sunday attempted to damage the statue of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at Town Hall. The police acted swiftly and arrested the suspect besides registering a case. If more people are found to be involved behind the incident they will not be spared," said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh.

A heavy police force has been deployed around the statue.

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